, 1887-01-07

"Well, you wait here. III call for you
as | come down.
There was nothing for 1t but Excel
slor. We found the path once more and
left the road TO follow the red arrows
At last the cross was reached, after a
climb OF two hours. The ruins of the
unlncky hotel were strewn around, md
little heaps Of ashes showed where camp
ing parties had cooked their meals. The
little strip OF brown rock as viewed from
Palenvillc proved to be a great precipice
that took steady nerves to approach and
peer over, and "A mile below the scattered
town looked like a toy village. Round
Top, the highest mountain OF the range,
was Just opposite and separated from US
by the tremendous tree clad chasm Of
Kaaterskill Glove. Away to the east
stretched the Hudson valley, dim in the
waning light. The full moon shone white
upon IL and turned the winding river ten
miles away into u silver ribbon. In the
west the sky was still red and the
aims bulks stood out black against the
crimson. 1t was a superb scene, still |
did not forget that we had several miles
of wild forest and mountain path between
us and supper. / think i mentioned this
at the time and, II memory holds its own,
believe the remark was considered in
congruous and out OF all keeping with the
panorama before US. Still we started
down.
The downward path Is always easy. At
times the way was very dark, but In the
openings the moon shone brightly We
took the path we missed in going up and
| congratulated myself that 1t led us
down quickly and did away with the
necessity of passing the quarry, rs we
vrottId hata Ind m do N vya liant thu road
The rough quarrymen were continually
in my mind, and many u man in mbush
had turned out to be an innocent stump
or rock. | had more none In my posses
sion than n newspaper man is generally
supposed to have and | was completely
unarfned. / had just begun to think my
fears %groundless when the path came to
the ruad again. | had walked ahead all
the way down. AS / came out on the
road my heart stood still. A few rod
further down Il man was standing in the
middle of the road apparently listening
intently. The moon shone full on I'm.
Fortunately had not stepped out into
the light went cautiously up the path
n bit and said in n whisper: Don't be
alarmed, there is n man on the road
below
"A quarrymanf"
II think So
"Wellfr
We'll, don't know exactly what to
do"
"They can't mean any harm. They
must be well known in the %neighbor-
hood
There are shanties up at the quarry.
/ don't see what the man would be doing
down here. He seems to be listening"
We both went carefully down to the
road. The man still stood in the moon
light. Another man stepped from the
shadow OF the woods.
Hear EN-, Joef''
Thought / did It little while since.
Don't know.
"Youn see it's as | told you They're
gone down long ago
Don't believe it. They couldn't have
passed us without seeing 'em.
The two men sat dow by the roadside
and one struck n match and lit his pipe,
We were evidently in for n siege. | sat
down on n rock that seemed dangerously
loose but there was no chance of seeking
II securer place. The swapping of II twig
would betray us.
There seems to be only two OF them,N
I whispered. II behave it would be 1t
good plan TO take tESm by surprise. |
could work carefully along above them,
anu Drain one OF tnem with Il stone, prom
ably both Of them If had good luck
A woman is always against extreme
measures. | knew the plan was n good
one but foolishly spared their lives. The
next instant 1t was too late. The loose
rock on which | sat gave way, md | was
thrown OH all tours into the middle of the
road. With II startled cry both men
sprang forward.
Are yo hurt asked one. l jumped
10 my feet and looked for my alpenstock
1--WE were sure you would miss the
path, being strangers, as we thought
when you asked the way We We're just
going up to look for you It's II good
enough ron in the day time but IT'S pizen
ut night
faint 50 much the danger of losing
your way, - said the other, ''or of falling
over as Of spraining your ankle. IF u
mans not used to the mountains he's
powerful apt to twist his foot comm
down. Where's the ladyln
The lady stepped down into the road.
I'm sorry you took the trouble to whit
for us, ~ she said.
"Uh, faint no trouble, " answered the
quarryman, taking off his hat. You
see we live down at Palenville, and SO we
just sat down and mad n smoke
That is about all there is to tell. We
found them very efficient md courteous
guides, and they would take nothing for
their services.-Luke Sharp in Detroit
Free Press.